KEYSTONE HEIGHTS – It starts with a block of clay. It’s white, tan or red. On its own, it’s not very inspiring but place human hands on the material, fueled with the power of imagination and beautiful art emerges.

For weeks, local artists have been shaping clay into decorative bowls in preparation for the Second Annual Empty Bowls program hosted by The Rotary Club of Keystone Heights. It is a fundraiser that, nationally, draws attention to the hunger needs in a local community by offering patrons an opportunity to purchase a handmade empty bowl – in exchange for a simple meal of soup, bread and water – to recognize the large number of people who go to sleep at night and are hungry.

The bowls and accompanying meal will be held Oct. 27 from 6-8 p.m. in the multi-ministry center at Trinity Baptist Church.

This year, the event will feature four restaurants who are donating and serving soup. Blue Water Bay of Melrose will be serving clam chowder. Keystone Heights restaurants including Johnny’s BBQ will serve navy bean and ham soup. Country Caterers is bringing broccoli cheese and Tom’s High on the Hog Pit BBQ will serve brisket chili.

In addition, local professional artists and potters are donating handmade bowls for a silent auction. They include works from Frank DiGangi whose work can be seen at Melrose Bay Gallery in Melrose. Randy Adams’ creations can be viewed at waywardproductions.vpweb.com. Darcy Webb Phillips’ art is at the Artisan’s Way Gallery in Melrose and Empty Bowls volunteer and graphic artist, Melanie Wegener’s work, is viewable at melanieannwegner.com.

This year, the immediate past president, Richard Segal, applied for a Rotary Foundation matching grant. The focus of the 2016 Empty Bowls is to raise enough money to help Lake Area Ministries purchase a new $6,000 commercial refrigerator to be able to provide fresh produce to their clients. With the matching grant, the Keystone Rotary Club is working to raise $3,000 through this event.

Keystone Heights High School art classes and Santa Fe College’s Watson Center art class are also contributing bowls for Empty Bowls.

Tickets for the event are $15 for adults (includes meal and selection of a handmade bowl – while supplies last) and $5 for children under 18 (includes a meal but no bowl). A second bowl of soup (while supplies last) can be purchased for $5 (with no handmade bowl).

Started in a Michigan high school art class in 1990 as a way to raise funds for a food drive, Empty Bowls has become a nationwide program. In its second year, the art class had developed into the Empty Bowls Project and became a full-fledged 501(c)3 that would promote the concept.

Since its inception, this simple project has evolved into a far-reaching program providing support for food banks, soup kitchens, and other organizations that fight hunger. Empty Bowls events have been held throughout the world, raising millions of dollars for use in combating hunger.